Compare towns
Barnard vs Newfane vs Fairlee vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Fairlee has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Barnard | Newfane | Fairlee | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
1,456 |
1,066Lowest |
1,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 20% above VT |
$5,174Lowest about the VT average |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Rivendell Interstate School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.